Honoring Ethical Leadership

The John Winthrop Wright
Ethics In Action Award

About the Award

The John Winthrop Wright “Ethics in Action” Award is named after John Winthrop Wright who founded The School for Ethical Education (SEE) in 1995. The Award was established to annually recognize an individual who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to ethical leadership by modeling and emphasizing core ethical values as essential to the mission and success of their company or organization. These core ethical values include: fairness, respect, responsibility, caring, justice, honesty, courtesy, citizenship, and the principles of the Golden Rule.

NOMINATE A CANDIDATE

Recent Recipients

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Jim Clark

Jim Clark, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, has been recognized for his dedication to advancing character development among youth. Under his leadership, the organization has emphasized programs that foster good character, impacting millions of young lives across the nation.

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Dan Houston

Dan Houston, Chairman, President, and CEO of Principal Financial Group, is celebrated for his unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. He encourages his employees to uphold the company’s Global Code of Conduct, fostering a culture of honesty and responsibility.

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Cindi Bigelow

Cindi Bigelow, President and CEO of Bigelow Tea, has been honored for her leadership in expanding and transforming the tea industry while maintaining a strong commitment to ethical practices and sustainability. Her efforts have positioned Bigelow Tea as a leader in the market.

About John Winthrop Wright

John Winthrop Wright, the visionary founder of The School for Ethical Education (SEE), was Chairman and CEO of Wright Investors’ Service, an international investment management firm in Shelton, Connecticut. Before his passing in 1996, Wright established SEE to foster character in children. His motto, “ethics in action creates character,” embodies his strong belief that respect, responsibility, honesty, and the ‘Golden Rule’ are needed for a flourishing society.

Commitment

Parents need to commit to model and reinforce to their children the core values and character strengths that mean the most to them. They also need to be creative and offer meaningful experiences that illuminate how important these character strengths are to the family’s core values.

Conversations

We know “We need to talk” freaks kids out, but too often parents avoid having conversations about character, especially as children get older. While it may not be easy to talk sometimes, we know from the research that parents who avoid talking to their children about serious matters quickly lose trust and connection.

Celebration

Parents need to find ways for their children to be active participants in their own character growth. Optimal character development occurs when children begin to make self-motivated commitments to consistently practice a core value (e.g. “I want to be the kind of person who is always honest and shows up on time.”) Parents need to celebrate these moments to shape and define individual character.